Ovechkin opens up about contract future, retirement and potentially leaving the Capitals

This past June, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin finally fulfilled on a promise that he made to the Caps fanbase way back in 2008 when he signed a historic 13 year, $124 million deal. Ovechkin FINALLY delivered a Stanley Cup championship to the long suffering Capitals fanbase. So… what’s next?

The Russian superstar is showing no signs of slowing down at 33 years of age and has joked in the past that he plans on playing until 60 so that he can take a run at some of Wayne Gretzky’s league records.

“To be honest, if I feel I’m not good enough when I’m 40, I quit,” Ovechkin said in a recent interview with Igor Rabiner of the Russian language tabloid Sport-Express. “I don’t want to deceive the hockey and I want to share more time with my kids in the future.”

It’s may be hard to believe but that massive 13 year contract is up in just two seasons and Ovechkin is slated to hit the open market as a 35 year old in the summer of 2021. So, again,… what’s next?

“I won’t make any comments for now,” Ovechkin said, before making a comment. “I still have a contract, but I’ve been playing only for two teams in my life: Dynamo Moscow and the Caps. I don’t like too much to change teams.”

These two statements, about wanting to play until 40 and not wanting to change teams, likely means that Ovechkin will remain in D.C. for the long haul, but stranger things have happened. Would anyone be surprised if Ovechkin returned to Russia to play out the final years of his career? Or, are the chance to win another Stanley Cup and pursue even more individual records too much for Ovi to pass up?